Autumn in Warwick

 

Temperatures are cooling rapidly.  The leaves are changing colors and starting to fall.  People are apple picking and decorating their homes with pumpkins.  Why, that must mean Autumn is in full swing.   Fall has always been my favorite season.  I love the smell of fresh baked pumpkin pie and cool evenings by the fire.  Apple cider and apple crisp now become a staple at the inn.  The smell of hot cider and cinnamon simmering in a pot on the stove in the Inn's kitchen gives me such a wonderful warm feeling.  And the best holidays are in the fall.  There's Halloween where you can become any kind of ghost or goblin no matter what your age.  And you can eat all the candy you want.  And then there's Thanksgiving.  This is the holiday that lets you get together with family and friends to give thanks and share the bounty of the year's harvest.

The Warwick Valley is abound with activities during this season.  The farmer's markets are full of all the good things that the Valley has to offer.  And on Sunday, October 14th, the Village of Warwick hosts it's Applefest festival featuring food vendors and crafts that focus upon the region's celebrated and healthy fruit, the apple. Music, entertainment, and fun for the whole family! Come early and see what Warwick is all about.

At the Inn we have been busy busy busy.  We are meeting all kinds of new people from all over the world.  Whether they come to visit family and friends, or come to vacation or even just to shop at the Woodbury Commons, it is our complete pleasure to have them in our home.  Our addition is almost complete.  All thats left is the painting and staining of the trim. I will post some pics of the completed project in the next post.

We are planning to add to our chicken and duck population.  In the spring, we will order at least another 12 hens and at least 2 more mallard ducks.  Bill is the primary caregiver for all our fowl and it is hilarious to watch how they obey his commands and follow him around.  But the guests love the fresh eggs in the morning so we do what we can to accommodate them.

Now a quick recipe for the fall season.  This is not exactly a breakfast food but it is great for lunch or dinner. 

Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squash   peeled
nutmeg
2 tablespoons of butter (unsalted)
salt and pepper
1 med. onion chopped
6 cups of chicken stock
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. ginger (grated fresh or minced in a jar)

Cut squash in 1" cubes.  In a large pot, melt butter. Add the onion and cook until translucent about 8 minutes.  Add ginger and brown sugar.  Stir until well blended.  Add squash and chicken stock.   Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is tender.  Remove squash with a slotted spoon and put into a blender and puree.  Return puree back to pot.  Stir and season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. 
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and drizzled with sherry.

This soup will fast become a family favorite.

Well folks.  Bill and I want to wish you a Happy Halloween and a wonderful Fall.  Hope to see you all in the coming months.  Next post I will tell you about some exciting new things we are doing here at the Inn.  Take care and God Bless you all.